Republic of Korea Black Tower, Floor 72.
It was a linked mission that continued from Floor 71.
A place where you progressed along a specific storyline.
Were the Black Towers of other countries the same?
Did humans appear as mission targets? Did linked missions occur?
That much was still unknown.
Among those climbing the seventies, Ju-hyeok was the only one.
The United States was also climbing, so answers would come in time.
The mission location on Floor 72 was a necromancer's dungeon.
As always, Gobang took the lead.
The moment they passed through the corridor, chimeras appeared.
Their appearance alone was grotesque.
Just in case, Ju-hyeok tried checking their information, but nothing came up.
For the same reason as the —without names, there was no information.
So no background description appeared either.
In short, trash mobs.
They weren't named enemies, so they wouldn't be difficult.
Of course, if another player entered alone, the difficulty would be a different story.
This was easy purely from Ju-hyeok's standpoint.
Then Gobang pointed at the chimeras and said,
"Chimeras are not naturally born lifeforms. Humans created them by mixing two or more kinds of monsters."
Oh! Gobang was actually giving information?
Usually, Gyeon-dallae or Kosak handled explaining strategies.
"They attached the head of a highly venomous serpent to the torso of a blood warrior."
"So we should watch out for poison."
"It's fine. The warrior will just rip the head off."
The raid began.
Ju-hyeok also took out the Thunderstorm Club from his inventory and held it.
"Advance!"
At that moment—
"Chief laborer, I ask your help."
"Huh? Yes, yes."
At Gyeon-dallae's request, Rajiks began pulling things out of his subspace bag one by one.
First, a handcart like the ones delivery drivers use.
On it, he neatly stacked a power bank, large speakers and an amplifier, and an MP3 player, then switched them on.
Boom-duck boom! Boom boom! Boom-duck boom.
Cha-chaeng! Chaeng-chaeng-chae-cha-chaeng!
Chyarrrk! Chyarrarar!
Drums, gongs, and bells rang out in layered harmony.
"It is a pre-recorded blessing ritual."
"…Ah, yes, yes."
"There is also a cleansing ritual. One need only change the track."
Gyeon-dallae grabbed the handle of the handcart.
It looked like she intended to push it along.
She resembled one of those ladies selling coffee at a rural five-day market.
"It is a curious artifact with talismans attached throughout its interior, so there is no need to worry about effectiveness."
"..."
"The sacred rope is first-rate as well."
"..."
Fine. As long as it works.
Life should be lived comfortably.
Like Gyeon-dallae does.
Alright, let's go. Let's get it!
Bardin, the human holy sword who provided both lighting and firepower.
Gobang, massive and imposing, wielding him.
Dungeon chimeras appeared in pairs, sometimes three or four at a time, bursting out of the dungeon corridors.
"O light!!!"
Thud! Crash-shashashak!
They were shredded the moment they appeared.
Like cutting through rotten bamboo.
Veronica's covering fire followed.
"Switching to sniper mode, pulling and transferring aggro."
"Received."
"O light!!!"
Spot!
Kosak darted in with twin daggers, stabbing and retreating, dealing damage.
Dungeon club DJ Gyeon-dallae followed behind, pushing the ritual handcart, applying buffs to allies and debuffs to the chimeras as the shamanic rhythm played.
Meanwhile, Rajiks—
"Huhhh…."
Was nodding off atop the Blood Wolf.
'Hmm.'
Had he been influenced by Veronica?
He'd said his scouting abilities had improved.
'These days he really doesn't bring back anything.'
No.
Don't be disappointed.
His achievements so far were more than enough.
Wasn't he Rajiks the cosmic laborer?
And this was a necromancer's dungeon.
When you thought of a dungeon, what came to mind?
Enormous treasure.
Whether there was treasure here or not, if there was, he'd probably find something big and bring it back.
Ju-hyeok and his group reached the end of the corridor.
Then—ding.
[Dungeon Chimera defeated 30/30]
[You have completed the Floor 72 basic mission.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: Magic Stones 1.2 kg / High-Grade Magic Stones 6 kg]
Basic mission complete.
They could leave now and still receive a success judgment.
But—
[Would you like to continue with the additional optional missions?]
[If you decline, you will exit the tower with mission success.]
"Continue."
Ju-hyeok was still hungry.
What good was a mere pile of high-grade magic stones?
They were going to scrape up everything, right down to the extreme-difficulty mission.
Rewards were guaranteed upon completion—how could he resist?
Soon, dungeon-enhanced chimeras appeared.
They were bipedal.
"A chimera combining the head of a Steel-Horned Mountain Goat, the torso of an ogre, and the tail of a Marsh Scorpion."
Professor Gobang.
"I am bigger than an ogre. The assassin will cut off the tail stinger."
"Pre—uh, alright."
Our Gobang has gotten smart!
"At this rate, you could play the brains of the party."
"Huh? W-what do you mean, Gobang as the brains? I can explain that much too."
"Yes, yes, of course you can."
"Anyway, I'm smarter than Gobang. No, I have to be."
He seemed to feel threatened by Gobang's rising intelligence.
It felt like just yesterday he'd been throwing a tantrum about summoning a stupid one.
Anyway, the dungeon-enhanced chimeras.
They were stronger than normal dungeon chimeras.
But just like before, they didn't even show background descriptions or allow information checks—in other words, they were weak.
'If things go well, even ordinary players could probably handle these.'
Most likely, the core of Floor 72 was the final extreme-difficulty mission—defeating the dungeon's master necromancer.
"The warrior will continue to lead. Summoner, follow safely."
Of course!
You're a tank who excels in both martial and tactical arts.
The dungeon-enhanced chimeras fell in no time.
[You have completed the additional optional mission.]
[Reward: Healing Potion (3)]
"Oh!"
See? It dropped again.
This is exactly why you keep going.
Healing potions without tower-exclusive modifiers—three of them, no less.
[Would you like to continue the high-difficulty optional mission?]
Why even ask?
"Proceed!"
Defeat 5 Dungeon-Annihilation Chimeras.
Turning the right-hand corner—
A massive body completely filling the corridor.
A chilling form.
"A Hell Rhinoceros torso, manticore limbs, and the head of a flame wyvern. Just watch out for its breath."
"I see."
A chimera capable of breathing attacks.
"Sergeant Vero, the moment it opens its mouth, pour small-caliber rounds into it."
"Roger that!"
Now he was even issuing orders.
At least here, in the necromancer's dungeon, Gobang was the commander.
The Dungeon-Annihilation Chimeras were butchered in the blink of an eye.
With SS-R attack-class summoned beings dogpiling them, how could they possibly hold out?
It wouldn't be long now.
Soon, the necromancer would appear.
Along with the plus alpha.
Finally—
Ding!
[You have completed the high-difficulty optional mission.]
[Reward: Dwarven Orichalcum Leather Gauntlets of Dexterity.]
"Yes!"
An equipment item.
Gloves where leather and metal harmonized perfectly.
'Perfect timing—I didn't have gloves.'
Since it was something he needed, he equipped them immediately.
Leather lining inside, metal plates and rivets on the outside.
His fingers moved freely.
[Would you like to continue the extreme-difficulty optional mission?]
"Proceed!"
The passage bent right once again.
Up ahead, part of a vast open space came into view.
It seemed to be the end of the dungeon.
Before entering—
"Dismiss Blood Wolf."
Spot!
"Huh?"
With the Blood Wolf gone, Rajiks' plump backside slammed into the floor with a thud.
"Sorry, Rajiks. From here on, you'll walk. Gotta get some exercise."
"Huhh…"
They needed to leave one spot open.
For their big brother.
Ju-hyeok and the summoned beings entered the final chamber of the dungeon.
The sight that greeted them—
'It's way bigger than I expected.'
For a dungeon, he'd assumed it would be cramped.
Instead, a vast space appeared, easily larger than a school athletic field.
And the height?
At least fifty meters to the ceiling.
And far in the distance stood the mission target.
A bald old man with a face full of wrinkles, a hunched back, and a bizarre staff covered in dangling skulls.
"So the Chimera Guardians were wiped out—I thought a dragon had invaded… but you're just adventurers."
It was Norma, the 8th-circle necromancer.
Rank: SSR+++ (Top-Tier Special Super Rare)
Type: Necromancer (Human)
'…Top-tier SSR?'
That meant he was stronger than their summoned beings.
If he were 9th circle, he might've been a Legend.
For Floor 72, the difficulty was quite high.
But that made sense.
This was an optional mission.
If you completed only the basic mission, you never had to meet Norma at all.
There was no obligation to take on the extreme-difficulty optional mission.
Ju-hyeok himself wouldn't have come this far if not for the rank evaluation and item rewards.
"You fearless fools. Do you think killing me will earn you some reward from the kingdom? Do you even know who stands behind me?"
Ju-hyeok answered Norma's sneer.
"Uh, isn't the king of the Norton Kingdom backing you?"
"…Hm? How do you know that? Did the king betray me? That can't be."
He knew because he could see it.
Necromancer Norma received a commission from the King of the Norton Kingdom to restore, enhance, and grow a Super-Demonic Beast Hydra. For this purpose, the Norton Kingdom handed over the fresh corpse of a Super-Demonic Beast Hydra that had been subjugated fifty years ago. Thanks to exceptional preservation magic, it had not decayed even after half a century.
Norma's restoration of the Super-Demonic Beast was nearing completion. An enormous budget had been invested, and a grand undertaking that consumed the living souls of at least 1,000 children.
By recalling dead souls to revive the Super-Demonic Beast hatchling's corpse, then successfully completing its enhancement and growth, it would become a strategic weapon that even dragons could not ignore.
"Heh heh heh. Well, what does it matter? I was short a few souls anyway—using yours, I can complete the perfect Super-Demonic Beast Hydra."
Ju-hyeok frowned deeply.
Norma smiled with a greasy grin.
"Are you scared? If so, you shouldn't have come here. An adventurer who doesn't know his place, daring to enter my dungeon?"
Scary…?
One word kept nagging at Ju-hyeok's ears.
Super-Demonic Beast Hydra.
'Where have I heard that before?'
His memory was hazy.
"Well then, with your souls—"
"Uh, excuse me. One moment."
"…What?"
Ju-hyeok, looking apologetic, said,
"Could you stay quiet for just a bit? I feel like I'm about to remember something, but you keep talking, so it's not coming back to me."
"Hah!"
Norma looked utterly dumbfounded.
So absurd that he couldn't even find words to respond.
"Let's see if you can keep up that insolent attitude after seeing this."
"Damn it, I was this close to remembering."
"…Then I'll introduce it myself. My masterpiece—Necromancer Norma's crowning achievement. The Super-Demonic Beast Hydra, revived after fifty years."
Norma raised his staff.
"Reinforced with dragon bones and scales, and with a soul orb containing the living souls of 985 children embedded in its heart."
From one corner of the vast cavern—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A colossal creature emerged.
A monster with nine heads.
"Become sacrifices to my Hydra."
Rank: SSR+ (Upper-Mid Special Super Rare)
Type: Super-Demonic Beast
That was when—
Gobang's body shuddered violently, trembling like a leaf.
'What's wrong with him?'
The moment Gobang saw the Super-Demonic Beast Hydra, his complexion changed.
Was it really that strong?
Since the information was displayed, there should be a description too.
Fifty years ago, when King Arius of the Norton Kingdom was still a hero, he subjugated the Super-Demonic Beast Hydra. At the time, however, it was merely a hatchling, still a youngling. Even so, slaying a Super-Demonic Beast skyrocketed the hero's popularity, which became the stepping stone that led him to the throne.
Now, borrowing the power of necromancy, it has been revived in a restored adult form. However, there is a truth no one knows. Fifty years ago, the one who drove the Super-Demonic Beast to the brink of death was not the hero. In truth, it was an unnamed barbarian warrior from the Great Plains.
"…Ah!"
A scene flashed through his mind.
A barbarian warrior fighting a nine-headed hydra.
Human figures watching from behind with sneering, cowardly eyes.
Now he remembered.
Gobang's background story.
Deceived by a fake hero, chosen as living bait—a meat shield—in a battle against a nine-headed super-demonic hydra.
Gobang fought bravely and tore off the hydra's heads, but in the end, the accumulated damage from acidic breath melted his body away and led him to death.
This was Gobang's world.
A world that had continued for fifty years after his death.
"Gobang, is that thing the same hydra from back then?"
"It is. It has changed, but it's the one that killed me."
In the next instant—
Fwoooosh!
Gobang enlarged his body through gigantification.
"I will face that thing alone."
What? Alone?
Against that monster?
"W-wait a moment. That super-demonic hydra isn't the same one anymore. It's been strengthened by necromancy."
"The warrior has also grown stronger. Thanks to the summoner."
That was true, but—
"If the summoner orders me not to, I will not. But the warrior asks the summoner—please let me face it alone."
"Uh…"
This was a dilemma.
The super-demonic hydra was SSR+, upper-mid Special Super Rare.
If the two clashed, who would win?
No one knew.
It would be a grueling fight.
Gobang might even be pushed back.
Ju-hyeok was worried.
Back then, he had died with his body melted by acidic poison.
Now that poison would be even stronger.
And given Gobang's nature, he wouldn't fight while avoiding the poison.
Ju-hyeok glanced at the other summoned beings.
Try to stop him.
"Uh, Gobang, Summoner Bong—"
"Be silent, assassin. Protect the summoner in my place. I ask this of you."
"Y-yes! …Good luck!"
No—why are you the one getting persuaded?!
"Gobang, trust your comrades. Even a sheet of paper is lighter when lifted together."
"Comrade Gobang, I'll at least provide covering fire."
"Gobang! Take me, Bardin, in your hand! Are we not one body?"
"Hoeeeeeek!"
Gobang did not respond.
He only looked at Ju-hyeok.
As if asking for permission.
Ju-hyeok could feel Gobang's unwavering resolve.
Was he trying to overcome the past—when he had been deceived by a fake hero and reduced to nothing more than a meat shield?
'Wait.'
Fake hero.
He was the king now, right?
'Don't tell me the next mission is…'
Meanwhile—
The 8th-circle necromancer Norma, watching the scene, was dumbfounded.
These adventurers were outrageously insolent.
They were chatting among themselves, not even paying him attention.
"Heh heh heh, you insolent wretches. Are you deliberately mocking me?"
Ju-hyeok snapped back irritably.
"Oh, come on! You keep yapping on the side—so noisy! I'm worried sick here."
"…What?"
"Ahhh! Fine, fine. I'll call someone to keep you company so you won't be bored. Try having a nice conversation with him."
"Damn you!"
Norma raised his staff.
Ju-hyeok whispered softly.
"Mad Demon, designated summon."
Fwoooosh!
Spot!
"Summoner."
"Mad Demon."
As always, the Mad Demon grasped the situation the moment he was summoned.
His gaze turned toward Necromancer Norma.
"An old man who has learned foul arts."
Wooooong!
The Mad Demon's aura filled the vast cavern.
"You dare point a staff at my summoner?"
Creeeak—shiver.
Goosebumps rose on Norma's bald scalp.
It felt as if he were facing a lord of hell.
A 9th-circle Archmage?
No.
He looked far stronger than that.
"W-who… who are you?"
Ignoring him completely, the Mad Demon strode forward.
Crushed by the pressure, Necromancer Norma staggered backward.
Ju-hyeok finally allowed Gobang to fight alone.
He even promised not to interfere.
What choice did he have?
Gobang's resolve was that firm.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud!
Gobang walked toward the revived super-demonic hydra.
Kosak scratched his head and muttered,
"So… what are we doin'?"
"What else? We wait for the right moment and jump in from behind."
"…Jumpin' from behind? Gobang's gonna say something. We promised, didn't we?"
Promises are made to be broken.
You ever seen a real man keep his promises?
"So we just let him fight alone? We strike first and apologize later."
"Got it. This Kosak here's a backstabbin' expert. I'm good at side stabs too."
Letting Gobang fight alone while they hid safely behind?
Absolutely not.
They would never allow that kind of tragedy to happen again.
But… where did Rajiks go?
He was just here a moment ago.